Introduction to EphesiansI. Prescript and Greeting (1:1-2)II. Blessing God Who Has Blessed His People in Christ (1:3-14)A. Praise to God for His Grace in Making Believers His People (1:3-6)B. Praise to God for His Grace in Redemption and Revelation (1:7-10)C. Praise to God for Making His People Heirs and Giving Them Hope in Christ (1:11-12)D. Praise to God for the Conversion and Future Salvation of Paul's Readers (1:13-14)III. Thanksgiving for Conversion and Intercession for Understanding (1:15-23)A. Thanksgiving for Faith and Love, and Intercession for Illumination (1:15-19)B. God's Great Power Displayed in Christ and for the Church (1:20-23)IV. From Children of Wrath to New Creation (2:1-10)A. Children of Wrath Like All the Rest (2:1-3)B. Objects of God's Mercy (2:4-7)C. The Nature and Consequences of God's Grace (2:8-10)V. From Existence without God to Membership in the People of God (2:11-22)A. The Special Plight of the Gentiles and God's Response (2:11-13)B. Christ Is the Believing Community's Peace (2:14-18)C. Gentile Christians as an Integral Part of God's Household (2:19-22)VI. Paul's Divinely Given Task and His Suffering for the Gentiles (3:1-13)A. Paul's Role in the Administration of the Mystery (3:1-7)B. How Paul Fulfills His Task (3:8-13)VII. Paul Prays for His Readers' Inner Strength and Praises the God Who Can Give It (3:14-21)A. Paul Prays for His Readers' Inner Strength (3:14-19)B. Paul Praises the God Who Is Able to Strengthen His Readers (3:20-21)VIII. The Growth of the Church toward Unity and Maturity (4:1-16)A. Christian Unity and Its Theological Basis (4:1-6)B. The Gifts of the Victorious Christ Cultivate the Body's Maturity (4:7-16)IX. A Reminder of How to Live as New Human Beings (4:17-5:2)A. No Longer Walk as "Gentiles" but as a New Human Being (4:17-24)B. Living as Human Beings Newly Created in God's Image (4:25-5:2)X. Avoiding and Transforming the Deeds of Darkness (5:3-14)A. Avoiding Sexual Immorality and Greed (5:3-7)B. From Avoidance to Transformation (5:8-14)XI. Wise Conduct within the Household (5:15-6:9)A. Introduction: Wisdom and the Life Filled in the Spirit (5:15-20)B. Submission in the Believing Household (5:21-6:9)XII. Standing against the Strategies of the Devil (6:10-20)A. Wearing God's Protective Armor (6:10-17)B. Persevering in Watchful Prayer (6:18-20)XIII. A Concluding Commendation and a Final Prayer-Wish (6:21-24)A. Tychicus and His Mission (6:21-22)B. Peace, Love, Faith, and Grace for the Letter's Recipients (6:23-24)

"Thielman's commentary on Paul's Letter to the Ephesians is exemplary for pastors who seek solid information about the meaning of this letter to the Christians in western Asia Minor, for missionaries who seek guidance for the contextualization of the truth of the gospel in other cultures, for teachers in churches and professors at seminaries who want to survey older and recent interpretations of the Greek text, and for all who seek a deeper understanding of the gospel of Jesus Christ. The careful historical exegesis, judicious exegetical decisions, and consistent concern to highlight the theology of the text make this an indispensable commentary."--Eckhard J. Schnabel, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary"Thielman's Ephesians admirably combines the features that distinguish excellent commentaries on Scripture: breadth of research in both classical and contemporary writings, careful attention to the form and structure of the Greek text, clear writing, and appropriate theological and practical application. This commentary will join Hoehner and O'Brien as the first references on Ephesians to which I turn."--Douglas J. Moo, Wheaton College Graduate School"Thielman manages an extraordinary feat: a commentary that is thorough, historically astute, and written in engaging, conversational prose. Rarely does one come away from a commentary thinking that it was a delight to read, but Thielman pulls it off brilliantly. I do not concur with all of Thielman's conclusions, but I enthusiastically recommend his detailed work to pastors, students, and laity alike."--Lynn H. Cohick, Northern Seminary"Ephesians has been described as both the crown of Paul's Letters and a Waterloo for commentators. Calvin's favorite epistle, it joyfully celebrates the grace of God and the love of Christ in all their fullness. Thielman's commentary plumbs its depths and is a model of informed and lucid interpretation. Like its subject, it is rich and edifying and repays careful reading."--Brian S. Rosner, Ridley College